Once-dominant Texans defense has rude awakening

Falcons receiver Leonard Hankerson (85) is brought down by Texans defensive backs Darryl Morris (21), Andre Hal (29) and Rahim Moore (26) after a 50-yard gain in the third quarter.

Falcons receiver Leonard Hankerson (85) is brought down by Texans defensive backs Darryl Morris (21), Andre Hal (29) and Rahim Moore (26) after a 50-yard gain in the third quarter.

Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff

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The Texans' J.J. Watt was in on four tackles and had a sack against the Falcons, who led 28-0 at the half, in a 48-21 loss.

The Texans' J.J. Watt was in on four tackles and had a sack against the Falcons, who led 28-0 at the half, in a 48-21 loss.

Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff

Once-dominant Texans defense has rude awakening

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ATLANTA - Through four games, the Texans' defense has been a major disappointment.

A defense that had such high expectations before the season put on a pathetic performance at the Georgia Dome, where the Falcons' offense scored five of the team's seven touchdowns and helped build a six-touchdown lead through three quarters.

Even though reserve quarterback Brian Hoyer engineered three touchdown drives in the fourth quarter Sunday, it wasn't enough to get rid of the wretched taste of a 48-21 defeat.

When Ryan Mallett was in the game, the Texans looked as if they would suffer their second shutout in franchise history and top their biggest deficit of defeat: 35 points.

"Awful," is the way defensive end J.J. Watt described it. "It was terrible. Everyone deserves blame, (because) it was an awful performance."

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The Texans' defense, so good over the last five games of 2014, was supposed to dominate. But the Falcons dominated, scoring touchdowns on drives of 54, 71, 82, 68 and 70 yards.

"Every single loss is terrible," Watt said. "Today was especially terrible. We played absolutely pitiful football today.

"This is the NFL, and you're not going to beat anybody that way."

If the Texans can recover their dignity in a hurry, they have a chance to accomplish something positive Thursday.

Quick turnaround

If the Texans beat Indianapolis in their prime-time game at NRG Stadium, they'll be tied for first place in the AFC South.

The Texans agreed that playing Thursday should be good for them after getting outplayed and outcoached so thoroughly by the Falcons.

"Yeah, I'm embarrassed," said inside linebacker Brian Cushing, who led the team with 11 tackles and had a sack wiped out by a penalty. "Indianapolis is a big game and a quick turnaround, and you want to get this taste out of your mouth."

Losing is an acquired taste, and the Texans better spit it out, or it'll become a habit. They don't want a repeat of Sunday.

The defense allowed quarterback Matt Ryan to throw for 256 yards and one touchdown. They did a magnificent job against NFL receiving leader Julio Jones, who was limited to four catches for 38 yards.

But the defense seemed dazed and confused when confronted with second-year running back Devonta Freeman.

Freeman was hotter than Georgia asphalt, running for three touchdowns for the second consecutive game and becoming the first back to score seven touchdowns in the season's first four games since LaDainian Tomlinson in 2005.

"I thought he played well," Watt said. "I thought he was a very good player. Obviously, when you score three touchdowns in a game, you're a pretty good player."

Freeman scored on runs of 16, 23 and 6 yards. The Texans allowed four touchdowns rushing. They had surrendered only one in the first three games.

"Give them credit, because they kicked our butts in all three phases," nose tackle Vince Wilfork said. "If you have a good defense, you should be able to do the small things right."

Wilfork disagreed with coach Bill O'Brien after the game. O'Brien said the loss was his fault, taking the blame himself rather than spreading it around.

Wilfork defends O'Brien

"I totally disagree," Wilfork said. "He shouldn't put it all on himself. We played stupid football. We were the ones who didn't make plays, got the penalties and gave up big plays."

Speaking of big plays, the Texans' offense allowed two fumbles to be returned for touchdowns by cornerback Desmond Trufant (24 yards) and linebacker Nate Stupar (84 yards).

"We've got a quick turnaround before (Indianapolis)," Wilfork said. "We have to look in the mirror and see what we want to be. And we better make that decision fast."